Let’s Rawk the Web: A Call to Action

While some conferences support a proactive diversity policy, the common lament industry-wide is the pool of candidates just isn't large enough to draw from. It's time for women and people of color to Rawk The Web: to become more visible, promote our achievements, and make ourselves known as the rockstars we truly are.

40.
Lament on-going for years
“I go to only a small fraction of conferences
and what do I see? The same handful of
speakers….few new faces, fewer new ideas,
rarely anything new to learn.”
- Nick Finck
Beyond the A-List, Diversity in the Web
Community, February 2007

73.
Put fear in its place
“Fear is not real. It is a product of the
thoughts you create. Do not
misunderstand me. Danger is very real.
But fear is a choice.”
- character of Cypher Raige (played by Will
Smith), After Earth

94.
It’s good for EVERYONE
“I also wanted to thank you for your presence as a
speaker at [Interlink] conference, because I often
find that the speaker lists are, like many things,
too often crowded with white men. And as a
white man, I really appreciated your perspective
as a woman of color, and I'm hoping that it
continues to clear the way for a multiplicity of
voices in our industry, which is greatly needed.”
- Nick Cox, @everydaytype, 9 June 2011

95.
What I’m shooting for
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bhenak/2663858493/